Superbowl Reality

I predicted, but didn't close the loop.  Final score - NO: 31 Indy: 17.

Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Day Tea Time

Yesterday, we had Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Day Tea Time at Gracie's school.  She had been talking about it for weeks - ever since her school gave her the flyer to bring home.  Everyone around here seems to be fighting a second round of sickness, but there was no sickness that was going to keep us away from this.

It was precious.  We got all dressed up, her in a dress and me in something I'd wear to church.  She watched me the whole time.  When we got to the church, we had to stand in line with all of the other daddys and daughters to get our pictures taken.  There were so many daddy/daughters there!  We took our picture on a little bench, Gracie in a boa.  I can't wait to see them.

Then, we went into the gymnasium and found two empty seats.  None of her good friends were around, so we sat at a table and met new people.  Then, one of her friends from her class, Kendall, showed up and sat across from us.  She was happy about that.  And I met Kendall's dad, John.  Nice guy.

Then, we played BINGO.  Gracie was one of the first to get BINGO, but instead of saying "Bingo," she had to say, "Daddy."  She got stickers for winning.  And then, we played until everyone won.  There were M&Ms and Sweet-tarts - she was in hog heaven.

After BINGO, they brought out tea and goodies to the tables.  The goodies were cookies, icing sandwiches and more cookies.  Gracie loaded up :)  We talked together, about the different candies, about her friends that weren't there, about Kendall, about the tea gloves that she didn't want to wear - it was really a great time.

Then, before we left, the teachers told everyone - "Daddy's look over at your daughter and tell her how much you love her and daughters, give your daddy a kiss and tell him how much you love him."  I hugged Gracie hard and told her how much I love her and that she is the light of my world.  She gave me a kiss and said, "I love you, Daddy."

What can be any better? 

Fun in the Snow

Snow, snow, lots of snow.  We woke up Thursday morning to snow on the ground and had all-day snowing.  I went into work that morning, but came home early so I could avoid the ice.  When I got home, we took the kids outside to play in the snow.  For the first time ever.  Well, I think Gracie played in the snow last year when there was maybe an inch on the ground.  This was enough to where we could make a snowman and snow balls to throw at each other. 

The kids loved it!  Gracie wanted to do everything that Steph was doing - snow angels, snow balls, throwing, running - everything.  Max and Nick loved it, even though they didn't know what to make of it at first.  Once they figured out that it wouldn't hurt them, they played and played.

Friday morning we woke up to more snow on the ground and icy conditions.  So, I stayed at home (which working from home for me and Steph both is not everything it's cracked up to be), and there was more playing-in-the-snow.  The kids and Steph went over to the Penn's and played and built.  Max liked to stomp around in the sludge.  Nick just liked to wade in the snow.  Gracie wanted to do snow angels most of all.

There were a few dejavu moments for me and Steph from New York.  Snow is great.  And I am so grateful that we had a chance to all exprience it together at such a young age for the kids.  I've got some video that I'll post soon!

SuperBowl Prediction

Super Sunday is here, but it doesn't feel like a Super Sunday.  Steph and I even watched a movie (Extract)?!?!  It was just OK, but now, I wish I would have watched more coverage.  I've thought a couple of times about our experience two years ago in the hospital room.  I will remember that Super Bowl forever.  I hope this one is good.  My prediction - NO 38 Indy 35.  Go Saints.

Movies = some semblance of adult life again

We have been movie watching fools lately.  It's such a good thing, because I remember not too long ago, when watching anything, much less a movie, for any length of time in one period was a challenge.  This is an indication that we have some semblance of an adult/together-time life back again.  The movies that we've watched since Christmas:

1.  The Hangover - hilarious.  Not to watch with your mom :)
2.  Julie & Julia - Yes, chick flick, but I really liked it.  Both Amy Adams and Meryl Streep were good.  Meryl Streep was great, actually.  Good, inspiring story for writers. 
3.  Duplicity - (Clive Owen & Julia Roberts) - just OK.
4.  Public Enemies - very good.  By the same director, Michael Mann, who made Heat.  This one had very much of a Heat-feel.  It's long, but I recommend.
5.  500 Days of Summer - good indie film.  We had recently watched "Away We Go", which has an indie-feel to it, too.  I compared the two, and because of that, it lessened my preference for 500 Days of Summer.
6.  The Heat Locker - intense.  Great insight into what war does to soldiers and their assimilation into 'real' life back home.  We can't thank the soldiers enough, for sacrificing in many more ways than we can comprehend, for us.  Very much recommend.
7.  Up - what you would expect from Pixar, as they evolve.  Good story.
8.  Inglorious Basterds - what you would expect from Quentin.  Good.  Pulp Fiction is better.
9.  The Illusionist - (Edward Norton) - good movie.

Today, we are going to watch "Extract" from Mike Judge.  Then, it is all about the SuperBowl.  With the Stovalls for the first half.  Go Saints.  :)

Nick's vocabulary - 7 words

Nick is starting to talk.  Simple words.  Yes, no, door, dadda, momma, ball, football. 

Max not so much.  He understands, but doesn't talk.

Gracie is learning how to spell.  I would say that she has 2 words in her spelling cache.  Gracie.  Bell.  We've got a spelling game that Steph (and I when I can) are starting play with her.  In a month, let's see how many she's got under her belt. :)

La Update Mi Familia

Maxi's sick.  Real bad cold.  He doesn't feel good at all.  He's crying right now.  Poor guy.  Nick is getting sick right behind him.  Gracie went to the movie theatre today with Alecia, Jackson & Katy to see Alvin & The Chipmunks.  We love our friends.  They are so good to us and our family.  My work is intense right now.  Steph has worked overtime, compensating for my late hours.  God bless her.

I've made it easier for everyone to know when I post something new.  You see the "Subscribe in a Reader" button in the right column?  Click on that and select your RSS reader (for those of you that this makes sense to).  Then, everytime I post something new, you'll know :)

Yes, I know, welcome to the convenience of the new interwebs.

Support in the New Age of Technology

So, from time to time, I've posted blogs here about my work.  Most of my readers (or those who I believe are my readers) have no idea what I do for work and even when I explain it, they still don't know, so I try not to mix the two.  I just started a work blog and I'd love to have anyone who's interested check it out and regularly follow me (http://11thscreen.com/).  I'm on Facebook and Twitter, both of which you can find from my work blog.  I just wrote a blog post for work that I feel compelled to share here, too.  It is appropriate for the times and it is something that I'll want the kids to know about when they're older.

My thoughts are not ground-breaking, but they are my thoughts nonetheless.  Here you go...

I am humbled, although not surprised, by the human condition and the outpour of support for all of the people of Haiti. Just like other major catastrophes of the decade (9/11, Thailand Tsunami, Katrina come to mind), people from all over the world are contributing in all sorts of ways. It’s awesome to witness how new technology – social & mobile – has enabled immediate outreach and support. Red Cross’s text message campaign has already raised $10 million plus. Say what you will about FarmVille and Mafia Wars, but their maker, Zynga, has utilized them as a platform and already raised $1.2 million plus. And Paste has partnered with musicians to offer up a library of exclusive MP3s to support the relief effort. Not to mention all of the companies, including mine, encouraging their employees around the world to contribute, and matching dollar-for-dollar those contributions. These are only a handful of examples that not only exhibit good will that I believe is inherent in people, but also exhibit the power of technology and how it can be used for productive, meaningful outreach and (global) connection. I’ve often told people that I wish there were a news channel dedicated to good news 24/7, particularly for events like this. Touché, there is such a thing, yet another example - if you follow the right people/sources, that is what Twitter has become for me.  :)

Our different kids

So, the kids, of course, just keep developing by the minute.

Gracie is so very inquisitive and curious about everything.  She talks, talks, talks.  There isn't anything that she doesn't ask a question about (excuse the double negative.)  She wants the attention that her baby brothers are taking away.  We do everything we can to give that attention to her.  She also needs to be engaged.  Doing.  We do as much as possible.  Steph is very good at this.  I could be better, but we (Gracie and I) have our moments.

Max is misunderstood.  And I misunderstand him more than Steph.  One could observe him, like I do, and think that he is grumpalupagous, but Steph says that he has so much that he wants to say and communicate, but he just can't do it.  He speaks in his twin speak and he does a good job of hand motions, but there is still a lot to be interpreted.  I think he is frustrated by us adults.  Why can't we just see/know what he wants?  To him, this is a simple subject and everyone who does not get it are morons.

Nick operates in his own little bubble.  He doesn't really care if anyone is around or engages him or even understands him.  He understands himself and Max understands him to the extent that he needs it and that seems to be good enough for him.  If all kids were like Nick, the world would be a better place.  He is simply adorable.

They all are.

Each day, we see how different they truly are from one another.  Some traits of mine, some traits of Steph, some traits of their own.  Despite their differences, they are awesome and we love them with all of our being.

Happy 2010!!!

Steph, nor I, can believe it's 2010.  That is crazy.  It was just yesterday that we were both in Austin, Steph looking to get into a prestigious graduate school and I looking to get financing for one of my films.  So much has happened since then, not the least of which we look up and see that 10 whole years have passed.

Steph did go to graduate school, The Actors Studio, and still has mixed emotions about her time there.  It was no doubt valuable - she learned from incredible teachers, made some incredible friends, and had an adventure like no other.  I didn't end up making my movie, but have parlayed that experience into a pretty good marketing career.  We got married in 2001 and I moved to NYC, after Steph's first year.  Nine wonderful years (albeit trying at times) of marriage, a four-year old daughter and 1.5 year old twin boys, another cross country move later and everything in between, here we are.  Ten years later.

2009 was a tough year.  It was a transformative year.  I hope that the effects of all of the transformations lead to more positives than not.  It is with that that we look into 2010.  This is in more ways that just another 'new' year, a new chapter.  Our lives will proceed in a new decade (some would technically dispute me on this), making new experiences, growing, transforming more and more into the best versions of ourselves.  My hope, more than anything, is that we strive to be better people (because we all can) - better spouses, parents, siblings, sons/daughters, friends, workers - in this new time.  The type of people we are shapes our experiences and that, at the end of ten years, is really all we have to look back and reflect on and take with us. 

May this year bless each and every one of us in ways that we can't imagine right now.